Lighthouses of Sweden: Lakes Mälaren and Hjälmaren

The nation of Sweden (Sverige in Swedish) is the largest country of northern Europe, occupying the entire west coast of the Baltic Sea. Along with its lengthy coast Sweden has a distinguished lighthouse history and a good record of preserving its historic lights. The Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet) works actively for the preservation of the lighthouses.

Lake Mälaren, Sweden's third largest lake after Lakes Vänern and Vättern, lies to the west of Stockholm. The lake's surface is only 3 m (10 ft) above sea level. It drains to the Baltic through several channels in the Stockholm area. Larger ships can enter the lake through the Södertälje Canal, a single-lock waterway through Södertälje at the southeastern corner of the lake, and smaller vessels can enter there or through the Karljohanslussen or the Hammarbyslussen, locks in Stockholm itself. Lake Hjälmaren is located to the southwest of Lake Mälaren. The two lakes are joined by the 13 km (8 mi) long Hjälmare Canal, which has nine locks to raise or lower vessels over the 22 m (72 ft) difference in elevation between the two lakes.

Sweden is divided into 21 counties (län) and the counties are subdivided into townships and municipalities (kommuner). Four counties border Lake Mälaren. On this page the lights are grouped by municipality.

The Swedish word for a lighthouse is fyr. The front light of a range is the nedrefyr (lower light) and the rear light is the övrefyr (upper light). Ö is an island, holme is an islet, skär is a skerry (a tiny island or rocky reef), grund is a shoal or shallow, sund is a strait (often between an island and the mainland), vik is a bay, hav is a sea, udde is a headland, flod is a river, and hamn is a port or harbor.

Aids to navigation in Sweden are maintained by the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. SV numbers are from the Sjöfarsverket light list (Fyrlista) as reported by the Swedish Lighthouse Society. Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals.

General Sources
Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet, SFA)
The Society is active in promoting the preservation of Swedish lighthouses.
Svenskt Fyrväsende
From the SFA web site, data and photos for many of the lighthouses.
Online List of Lights - Sweden
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Lighthouses in Mälaren
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia; many of these photos are by Johan Fredriksson.
Lista över fyrar i Mälaren
Swedish Wikipedia's list of Mälaren lighthouse, with links to photos.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Mälaren.


Ytterholm Light, Enköping, July 2021
Instaagram photo by Johan Holmström

Lake Mälaren Lighthouses

Enköping (Uppsalas Län) Lighthouses
Ytterholm
1912. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two flashes every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow green horizontal band. Johan Holmström's photo is at the top of this page, David Thyberg has a 2009 photo, Fredrika Af Kotteland has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is one of the lake's taller and better-known lighthouses. The station was staffed until 2003. Located on the southern tip of the island of Ytterholm, about 800 m (1/2 mi) south of Brandholmssund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3785; Admiralty C6682.2.
Husgarn
1949. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band around the lantern. Trabas has a photo, Wikimedia has Fredriksson's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the western tip of a small island south of Bryggholmen. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3805; Admiralty C6684.4.
Oknö Hälludde
1925. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, pattern unknown. 5 m (16 ft) round lantern, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo, Wikimedia has Fredriksson's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the sharp northern tip of the island of Oknö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3810; Admiralty C6684.6.
Bryggholmen
1949. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow green horizontal band around the lantern. Fredriksson's photo is at right, Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the western tip of the island of Bryggholmen. Site open, tower closed. SV-3815; Admiralty C6684.8.
Koholmsgrund
1977. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 12 s. 7 m (23 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in the center of the channel north of the island of Koholmen. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3822; Admiralty C6685.4.

Bryggholmen Light, Enköping, October 2018
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Johan Fredriksson
Nybyholm
1925. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on a round stone base. Lighthouse painted white with a narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the north side of the lake at the western entrance to the channel north of the island of Koholmen. May be accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3825; Admiralty C6685.6.

Västerås (Västmanlands Län) Lighthouses
By far the largest community on the lake, Västerås is a city of about 150,000 residents and the capital of Västmanland County.

Snesarboudde
1947. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse formerly painted white with one narrow green horizontal band but it is yellow in Anders Eriksson's 2021 photo. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a mainland promontory about 13 km (8 mi) southeast of Västerås. Site open, tower closed. SV-3870; Admiralty C6688.2.
Vretbo Övre
1936. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colred red with a wide white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo but the tower is hard to see in Google's satellite view. Located on Vretbosudde, the headland on the east side of the entrance to the bay leading to Västerås. Site status unknown. SV-3875.01; Admiralty C6688.41.
Fyrskepp 5 Svenska Björn (Utgrunden)
1866 (Bergsunds Mekaniska Verkstad, Stockholm). Decommissioned 1962. 27.7 m (91 ft) steel lightship; light tower with lantern and gallery amidships. Vessel painted red with white trim. Leif Elsby's photo is at right, Göran Andersson has a photo, another closeup photo is available and Google has a satellite view. The ship served the Utgrunden station until 1883; thereafter it spent nearly all its career on the Svenska Björn station in the Baltic east of Stockholm (see the Värmdö to Nynäshamn page for the lighthouse now at that location). In 1962 it was sold to a Finnish company, which stripped it down and used it to transport sand to Helsinki. Sometime in the late 1970s it was sold to a private person who restored its original name and appearance. The ship is moored at a marina on the east side of Västerås. Site open, vessel closed. Site manager: private. ARLHS SWE-254.
* Västerås (2)
1942 (station established 1883). Active; focal plane 3 m (10 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo, a 2018 closeup photo is available, Ativitt Dinkgairw has a 2021 street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a mole at the entrance to Västerås. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. SV-3910; Admiralty C6690.
Västra Holmen
1977. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); light pattern unknown. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a distant view, a view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the western tip of a small island about 3 km (2 mi) south of Västerås. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3901; Admiralty C6689.8.

Fyrskepp 5 Svenska Björn, Västerås, 2016
SFA Creative Commons photo by Leif Elsby
Hovaren
1958. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round fiberglass (?) tower, colored white with a red horizontal band. Sune Wilhelmsson 's photo is at right, Trabas has a distant view, a very distant view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 3.5 km (2.25 mi) south of the Västerås waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3900; Admiralty C6689.6.

Köping (Västmanlands Län) Lighthouses
Tallklubben (Övre)
1991. Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) square skeletal tower; the light is shown through the center of rectangular daymark panel colored orange with a yellow vertical stripe. Google has an indistinct satellite view. The range guides eastbound vessels; the Gliparna light (see below) is the front light. Located on a small island southeast of Berghagen. Site status unknown. SV-3982; Admiralty C6694.41.
Östra Torpet
1941. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on a round concrete pedestal. Lighthouse painted white with a narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo and trees surround the light in Google's satellite view. Located on the north side of the lake at Berghagen. Site open, tower closed. SV-3985; Admiralty C6694.7.
Gliparna (Nedre)
1941. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); quick-flashing white, red or green light. 5 m (17 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, Samuel Starkenberg has a distant lake view, and Google has a satellite view. This light is the front light of a range; a daymark panel colored orange with a white vertical stripe stands behind the lighthouse. The rear light is on a skeletal tower. Located on an island off a promontory about 4 km (2.5 mi) east of Stäudde. Site open, tower closed. SV-4002; Admiralty C6694.4.
Torpagrund (2)
1943 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white with one narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a view from the lake and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Stäudde. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3970; Admiralty C6693.2.

Hovaren Light, Västerås, August 2019
SFA Creative Commons photo by Sune Wilhelmsson
Bogen
1977. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 5 m (27 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock near the extreme western end of the lake. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3994; Admiralty C6694.

Eskilstuna (Södermanlands Län) Lighthouses
Småholm
1941. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); quick-flashing white, red or green light. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white. Trabas has a view from the lake, Samuel Starkenberg has a lake view, and Google has a satellite view. This light is a leading light for both eastbound and westbound vessels. Located on the northern tip of the island of Småholm, about 1.5 km (1 mi) west of Kvicksund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3966; Admiralty C6692.6.
Torshälla
Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 5.5 m (18 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red with a white roof. A photo by Hartmut Sandvoß is at right, Trabas has a photo, Samuel Starkenberg has a lake view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry in the entrance to the harbor of Torshälla, a town of about 7600 residents; this is also the entrance to the Hjälmare Canal leading to Lake Hjälmaren. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3950; Admiralty C6691.8.

Strängnäs (Södermanlands Län) Lighthouses
Agneudde
1925. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (23 ft) tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. This light marks a right-angle turn in the course of the lake. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Aspö. Site open, tower closed. SV-3843; Admiralty C6687.
Selaön (Norrtorp)
1948. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo, Wikimedia has Fredriksson's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the north side of the island of Selaön near Norrtorp. Site open, tower closed. SV-3790; Admiralty C6683.8.
Torshällas Fyr
Torshälla Light, Eskilstuna, September 2011
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Hartmut Sandvoß; used by permission

Södertälje (Stockholms Län) Lighthouses
Ridö Pilskär
Date unknown (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two flashes every 4 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow green horizontal band on the lantern. Fredriksson's photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The stone tower of this lighthouse is probably original, although the lantern is probably more recent. Located on a skerry in a narrow channel south of the island of Ridö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3760; Admiralty C6681.2.
Kurön
1946. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery; lantern painted white with a red horizontal band. Wikimedia has Fredriksson's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the northern tip of the island of Kurön, about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Hallsta. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3777: Admiralty C6682.
* Viksberg
1925. Inactive since 2022. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on a round cylindrical concrete tower. Lighthouse painted white with a narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of the entrance to the Södertälje waterway from the lake, on the north side of Viksberg. Site open, tower closed. ex-SV-3715; ex-Admiralty C6680.2.

Ridö Pilskär Light, Södertälje, June 2015
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Johan Fredriksson

Salem (Stockholms Län) Lighthouses
Långhällsudde (2)
1925 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 4.2 m (14 ft); flash every 4 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery mounted on a round cylindrical concrete tower. Lighthouse painted white. David Thyberg's photo is at right, Wikimedia has Fredriksson's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a mainland promontory at the west entrance to the Bockholmmssund, about 3 km (1.8 mi) north of Viksberg. Site open, tower closed. SV-3709; Admiralty C6680.6.
Bockholmssund Nedre
Date unknown (station established 1883). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 5 m (17 ft) lantern, mounted on a round concrete pier and painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Wikimedia has Fredriksson's closeup photo, a black and white photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The light became the front light of a range in 1940. The rear light is on a smaller tower. Located on a narrow channel on the south side of the island of Helgö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3700; Admiralty C6716.7.

Botkyrka (Stockholms Län) Lighthouses
#Norsborg
Date unknown (station established 1940). Deactivated and removed in 2006. Formerly a 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, mounted on a round concrete pier and painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. No photo available; Google has a satellite view of the former location. The light was removed on 24 November 2006 and even the concrete pier was demolished. Located on a promontory on the northwest side of Norsborg. Site status unknown. ex-Admiralty C6717.6.
Slagstaholm
1919. Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Per Ola Wiberg has a photo, Wikimedia has Fredriksson's closeup photo, Trabas has a view from the lake, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of the island of Slagstaholm, about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) southwest of Solsidan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-3688; Admiralty C6717.8.
Långhällsuddes Dyr
Långhallsudde Light, June 2007
ex-Panoramio photo copyright David Thyberg

Lake Hjälmaren Lighthouse

Arboga (Västmanlands Län) Lighthouse
Västra Gården
1950. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical wood (?) tower with gallery, painted white. Trabas has a distant view but shadows conceal the lighthouse in Google's satellite view. The Admiralty has dropped its listings for lights of Lake Hjälmaren. Located on the north side of the island of Valen, in the center of the lake. Site status unknown (probably on private property). SV-4045; ex-Admiralty C6693.72.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: Northeast: Southern Bothnia | East: Stockholm Area | Southeast: Värmdö to Nynäshamn

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted December 9, 2008. Checked and revised December 5, 2023. Lighthouses: 28; lightships: 1. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.